Take a few minutes to improve your facebook safety, secuity, andprivacy
Facebook can be a wonderful and magical place. You can connect with old friends and share the latest funny cat videos all at the same time.
As with all things good, there is also a dark side to Facebook. rogue applications, Facebook hackers, identity thieves and other assorted bad guys love Facebook almost as much as you do. Your social network data, such as your friends, things you like, groups you associate with, etc, have all become valuable commodities to hackers and scammers.
It seems hard to believe that scammers would want to hack your Facebook profile but it makes total sense if you think about it. If a scammer can hack your profile and for all intents and purposes “become” you by assuming your Facebook identity (via your hacked account) they can then ask your friends to do things such as maybe tell them that you are stranded somewhere and need money wired. Your friends might comply, thinking it’s really you in trouble, and by the time everyone figures our what’s going on, the scammer has your friend’s money.
Here are several steps you can take to make your Facebook experience as safe as possible:
1. Create a Strong Password
The first key to Facebook security is making sure that you create a strong password so your account doesn’t get hacked. A weak password is a sure way to have your account compromised by hackers and identity thieves.
2. Check and tighten up your privacy settings
Facebook is constantly evolving. As a result, your privacy options may change as well. You should check to see what your privacy settings are set to at least once a month. If new privacy options become available, take advantage of them. Opt for the “Friends Only” viewing option whenever possible to tighten the reigns on who can see your data.
Facebook also has advanced privacy options that let you restrict certain people (i.e. your mom) from being able to see specific posts.
3. Learn How to Spot a Facebook hacker
Many times hackers are foreign and don’t have a good grasp of your local language. This is a good tip off. See the link above for other clues on how to spot a Facebook hacker.
4. Don’t post everything on Facebook
There are certain things that are better left off of Facebook, such as your whereabouts, your full birth date, and your relationship status (stalkers would love to know you just broke up with someone). These are just a few of the 5 Things You Should Never Post on Facebook. (see link above for more).
5. If You or a Friend’s Account Has Been Hacked, Report it Immediately
If you’ve already become the victim of a Facebook hacker, you need to report your compromised account to Facebook as soon as possible so that you can regain control of your Facebook account and keep the hackers from convincing your friends that they are you, which could lead to your friends being scammed as well.
From pictures to videos to status updates, you put a lot of stuff on Facebook and you probably should consider backing it up every once in a while for safe keeping.
Facebook now makes it easier than ever to back up most everything that you’ve ever posted. A hacker could possibly go in your Facebook profile and delete something important, so It’s a probably a good idea to backup this information every few months in case your account is hacked, deleted, or disabled. Consider keeping a copy of your Facebook data on a physical disk such as a DVD or a Flash Drive. You might also want to store that backup in a safe place such as in a safety deposit box.
